The train traveling from Holguín to Havana experienced a derailment on Sunday afternoon as it passed through the province of Las Tunas. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to official sources. The incident occurred at 6:20 p.m. when Train Extra 16, serving national passengers, derailed a locomotive wheel at Balcón on the Central Line, as shared on the Facebook page Rutas Nacionales.
Officials confirmed that none of the travelers were harmed, and they were promptly informed of the situation by the train crew. "A visual inspection showed no damage to the train cars or the locomotive," the source noted. Rutas Nacionales also mentioned that the train was re-railed, and specialists were working swiftly to restore normal service.
In accordance with established protocols, an investigative commission will be tasked with determining the cause of the derailment. Representatives from Cuba's Railway Management, the local government's Transport Administration, the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) were dispatched to the scene.
The source concluded by apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience and expressed hope for a swift resumption of the journey. As of this report's conclusion, Rutas Nacionales had not released any further updates on the incident.
This derailment follows just over two weeks after another passenger train, operating between Guantánamo and Havana, tragically struck and killed an individual in eastern Cuba. In that instance, official sources did not clarify whether it was an accident, negligence, or an intentional act by the victim.
Train Accidents in Cuba
Recently, Cuban Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila disclosed that 137 incidents occurred in 2024, compared to 160 in 2023. Last year, there was a 14% reduction in railway accidents, although 17 people were fatally struck by trains.
Despite the decrease, the minister highlighted that the railway remains a "safe means of transportation in Cuba," notwithstanding the operational and logistical challenges facing the national railway system. However, he acknowledged that economic damages from these accidents exceeded 6.6 million Cuban pesos, impacting both infrastructure and rolling stock. He also emphasized that the causes of accidents are attributed to both internal system errors and external factors.
Understanding Train Safety and Incidents in Cuba
What caused the Holguín to Havana train derailment?
An investigation is underway to determine the cause, but initial reports indicate a locomotive wheel derailment on the Central Line.
Were any passengers injured in the Las Tunas derailment?
No passengers were reported injured during the derailment, and all were informed promptly by the train crew.
How many railway accidents occurred in Cuba in 2024?
There were 137 reported railway incidents in Cuba during 2024, a decrease from the previous year.